Youth in Cairns

Cairns Young Mayors Program

The new partnership between Cairns Regional Council and the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) will get young people more involved in local decision-making.

The Young Mayors program will support people aged 17 and under to get elected to a Youth Council, positioning them as decision-makers on issues that impact their future.

Cairns joins Mackay (QLD), Horsham (VIC) and Wollongong (NSW) to pilot the program in Australia, with plans to scale to councils across the country.

Click here for more information.

Young and Emerging Artist Opportunities

Flame.Arts is Cairns Regional Council’s arts program for young and emerging artists, artists with a disability and First Nations artists.

There are programs and opportunities across a broad spectrum of arts and culture, including dance, music, visual arts, design, film and community arts, with activities spanning every month of the year.

Through workshops, skills development, grants, mentoring, performance and exhibition opportunities, Council’s Creative Life team – who are established creatives and arts workers themselves – are committed to igniting creative expression in Cairns.

For more information, please contact the team on 4032 6634 or email flameprojects@cairns.qld.gov.au

CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES

Youth Urban Art Project

Council's Youth Urban Art Project (YUAP)  is a collaboration between artists, young people and the community to paint murals in spaces where young people gather. Each year, Council identifies a number a sites around the region that would benefit from more colour and creativity.

We invite artists to work with young people and community groups  to design, paint and create murals and artworks that  foster pride of place, connection, community pride and reduce graffiti vandalism.

As of July 2022, 18 artworks have been created in 14 Cairns suburbs under the program.

• Coastwatcher Park, Trinity Beach (two murals - amenities block in 2018/2-19 and an outdoor ping pong table in 2022)
• Gordon Creek Cycleway, Woree (2022)
• Todd Park / Edmonton Skate Park (2022)
• Shang Park, Mooroobool (2022)
• Information Park, Smithfield (2021)
• Glenoma Park, Brinsmead (2021)
• Sinclair Miller Bridge underpass, Bentley Park (2021)
• Griffiths Park, Manunda (2021)
• 59 Munro Street, Babinda (2018-19)
• Kenrick Street Park, Gordonvale (2018-19)
• Gordonvale Swimming Pool (2018-19)
• Sandown Close, Woree  (2018-19)
• Henley's Hill Park, Earlville (2018-19)
• Murray St, Manoora  (2018-19)
• Redlynch Skate Park, Redlynch (2018-19)
• Keith Edwick Park, Machans Beach (2018-19)
• Yorkeys Knob Foreshore Park, Yorkeys Knob (2018-19)

FInd out more about the Youth Urban Arts Project.

Pride of Place (YUAP 2018-2019)

This mural project illustrates the stories of of Cairns suburbs, as seen through the eyes of the young people who live there.

Flip through the photo book to check out the large-scale murals on walls, skate park ramps and buildings that were co-designed with youth and local street artists in Babinda, Gordonvale, Edmonton, Earlville, Woree, Manoora, Redlynch, Machans Beach, Yorkeys Knob and Trinity Beach.

The project is presented by Cairns Regional Council and the Australian Government's Building Better Regions fund.

Youth events and services

Cairns has a number of local youth services and other organisations that support young people. If you are seeking information about a specific service in the Cairns region, please contact 4044 3568 or email communityservices@cairns.qld.gov.au

SPAYC+PLACE = free & fun activities!

SPAYC+PLACE programs engage young people and their families in Cairns West.

Young people are invited to join in the free activities to have some fun, be social and learn new skills. The program engages young people and their families in physical activity with the aim of creating connected communities.

For more information, phone 4030 8392, visit the Cairns Safer Streets website, or email cairns.saferstreets@police.qld.gov.au

Cairns Safer Streets is a multi-agency, co-located group of State Government representatives delivering innovative projects through community and whole-of-government partnerships.